Rhode Island General Laws Title 40. Human Services § 40-5.3-2. Youth pregnancy and at-risk prevention services program--Findings--Legislative intent--Goals

(1) Young people, especially at-risk youth, are more vulnerable to teen pregnancy, child abuse, gang- and drug-related activity, juvenile crime, school failure, neglect, and other illicit activities during the potentially unsupervised summer months, as well as the hours between the end of school and the time their parents or guardians return home from work.

(2) Without community-based prevention and mentoring programs, the threats to the well-being and safety of our youth continue.

(3) In order to minimize the risk to young people, it is the intent of the general assembly to expand after-school and summer community-based prevention, mentoring, and development programs and to implement those programs in accordance with the federal Temporary Assistance for Needy Families Program (“TANF” program) described in Title IV Part A of the federal Social Security Act, 42 U.S.C. 601 et seq.

(4) The goal of the program shall be to focus on the particular TANF goal of preventing youth pregnancies as well as reducing other at-risk behavior described in this section.